Sayulita Sojourn

I don't know why it has taken three days for me to write this but I think it had to "percolate" in this addled brain. There were so many dynamics and chapters to the saga that "it", the adventure, had to settle down.

The "plan" was to drive four hours to Tlaquepaque and spend the night since Matilda had never traveled before and no one knew what to expect.............she turned out to be a "Travel Trooper" and slept any time the car was moving. And believe me, when she was in it, I was moving!

So we got to Tlaquepaque with directions of "how to get to the b&b" which I followed to a "T" which included turning left on a "no turn left" street in front of 6 lanes of traffic. Gypsy son John nearly had a stroke. BUT hey, I knew what I was doing.................I drove all over that area for 20 years when I was still working and shipping out of there.

Sad to say, Tlaquepaque is NOT the brilliant jewel in the crown that it used to be and my favorite restaurant, The "No Name" cafe looks very tired too.............even the peacocks were missing - guess they got so old they went to the happy hunting ground.

The photo is of all the "players" in the sojourn minus me and another couple who met us there. These are Lisa's parents plus the "gypsy kids" and another "player" who turned out to be a "character". He is a screenwriter living in San Miguel who is quirky, funny and sharp. Among other screenplays he's written was "Poltergeist". We hit it off and discovered that we were born very near each other in a suburb of Chicago. I have a very "off the wall" sense of humor that gets me in trouble sometimes and this guy and I really got each others' mannerisms and humor........I think it's a Midwest thing. (Yes, for those who want to know, that would be you Vandy, he is married and his wife was at a seminar) Geez, I always have to qualify that for those who have tried to "fix me up" for mumble-something years!
So, next day we head out - no one has thought to tell me that it is not a toll road (cuota) all the way to PV so for the last two hours of the four hour drive we are behind sixty zillion trucks going no faster then 5 MPH. Lordy, was I happy to see the beach when we got there...........As was everyone else. We checked into the house, found a place for me at another place and headed to the water and lunch...........First order of business after lunch is the "big dip". John took Matilda out and did the official "first big dip" - toes only. She liked it - no tears.

And to make sure that the "dip" worked we officially had a "second dip" in the pool where I was staying. Matilda has been officially "dipped" and is now had the first Rite of Passage. Dad wanted to do all the dipping so she hasn't had a "grammy dip" as yet.

Here's the "gypsy kids" walking on the beach - Lisa with her parasol to keep the sun off Matilda.

And just to make sure that babies have everything - Matilda has her very own tent.......it has an air mattress and Mom and Dad say this is a way to keep bugs and beach dogs and people from getting to Matilda. She liked it.................I've seen everything now. She's in there - it's the white thing inside..........

There were a few good restaurants in Sayulita. One that the group liked was the Buddah Bar cause they all wanted sushi...........I pretty much stuck with mahi mahi, shrimp and pina coladas every chance I got.............It was the "only" way for me............But the last night at the Buddah Bar, Matilda fell asleep on the big cushy sofas they had and she looked like a little buddah that had had enough. LOVE her little toes!

For all my Texas friends and those who are connoisseurs of great ice cream, I found out the LAST night there that they had Blue Bell ice cream in Sayulita - thank heavens, I didn't know that the FIRST day. It's one of those things that Texans crave! Hence the look of pure joy on son's face as he sees the sign..........

For those who have asked about Sayulita - here's my description - a surfer's town as long as you're in your 20's. Dirt streets, the smell of pot, and expensive. I've been to so many idyllic coves and bays and beautiful shangri-las in Mexico and this didn't even come close - in my opinion - BUT, BUT I did find a place when I did a road trip and tomorrow I'll tell you where it is - "sweet", idyllic, Mexican beach town.............

The trip home was another adventure that instead of taking 8 hours took 11..........yup, BUT Matilda slept the whole way unless we were pulled over for her to nurse. AND it wouldn't have taken so long but we hit Guadalajara at 1:30PM and had to drive right through the town of over 2 million people................oy vey. We made it - life is good and now the "gypsy kids" know that Matilda will be good traveling from here to Houston to Montana - the first leg of the "outtahere" gang...........